Folding camera.



F. COLGNNESE.

FOLDING CAMERA.

lAPPLICATION msn ma. 12. |915.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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F. COLONNESE.

FOLDING CAMERA.

APPLlcATloN FILED ri. 12. 1915.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@Wong *wmf-@em UNITED srafrhnsnpnrnnr OFFICE.

FRANK COLONNESE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 CHARLESBOCCIA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CAMERA.

.Application led February 12. 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK CoLoNNEs, a subject of the King of Italy,residing at N ew York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Cameras, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible cameras of the reflex type and itconsists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In this form of camera a ground glass screen is usually mounted in thecase approximately at a right angle to the focal plane and inasmuch asthese parts have fixed relation it has heretofore been impossible tocollapse the case in order that the outfit may occupy'small space whenin transit.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for swingingor folding the ground glass screen and the mirror with relation to thefocal plane in order that the said parts may be compactly assembled whenthe case is collapsed or folded.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of thecamera showing the parts extended. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing theparts collapsed. Fig. 3 is al similar view showing the parts collapsedand having parts broken away. Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the screenand mirror and connecting parts. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thescreen and mirror showing the said parts disconnected and separated.Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the shutter releasing means. Fig. 7 is adetailed perspective view of a lever adapted to beused for swinging themirror out of the cone of light.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing the 'camera includes afoldable easel having mounted upon the top thereof a foldable hood 2. Abellows 3 is connected with.

the forward `side of the case 1 in the usual manner andcarries. a lensholder 4 which in turn is adjustably supported in a frame 5.

.The frame 5 is adjustably mounted lupoua bed 6 in the usual manner andthe said bed is hingedly connected with an outer' case 7 which issomewhat smaller in end elevation than the inner case 1 hereinbeforereferred holder 8 andwhen the plate is in position in Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

serial No. 7,794.

' the holder it constitutes what will be hereinafter referred to as thefocal plane. Links 9 are pivotally connected with the bed G and slidablyengage the sides of the outer casing 7 and serve as means for holdingthe bed 6 1n proper position with relation to the case 7 when the partsare in extended positions as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. "W hen theparts are in the position as shown in Fig. l the lens which is carriedby the lens holder 4 is adapted to cast or direct a pencil of light uponthe focal plane hereinbefore referred to. The hood 2 is provided with aninflexible side 10 which is hingedly connected with the end walls of thecase 7 and links 11 are pivotallyconnected with said infiexible side 10and alsol slidably engage the end walls of the case,7 and are adaptedwhen the parts are in extended position to hold the side 10 and the hood2 extendedv as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

A roller 12 is journaled for rotation in the' lower portion of the case7 and this roller is of the usual spring actuated type employed incameras of this kind. A roller 13 is ournaled for rotation at'the upperportion of the case 7. A shutter curtain lll of the usual pattern isarranged towind upon the rollers 12 and 13, the said curtain as itunwinds from one roller winds upon the other, the curtain duringoperation unwinding from the roller 13 and winding upon the roller 12. Ahandle 15 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft of the roller 13 and maybe .used for the purpose of rewinding the curtain upon the said roller18. A gear wheel 1 6 (best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing) 1s mountedupon the shaft of the roller 13. and meshes with a gear wheel 17 whichis )ournaled at the side of the case 7. A ratchet 18 is fixed with'relation to the gear wheel 17 and is provided with a single tooth 19. Abell crank detent 20 is fulcrumed at the slde of the case 7 and isprovided at one end with a pawl 21 adapted to engage the tooth 19 of theratchet and normally hold the same against rotation. A spring 22 isfixed to the side of the case 7 and bears against the end portion of thebell crank detent 20 and serves to normally hold the pawl 21 in the pathof movement of the tooth 19 of the ratchet 18. `The detent 20 isprovided' at that end .other than the end which carries the pawl 21 withan outstanding lug 23 the object of which will be hereinafter explained.

A shaft 24 is journaled at its end portions in the opposite'sides of thecase 7 and carries 5 a ground glass screen 25 of the usual pattern. Anangular block 26 is iixed to the shaft 24 and bears against the f-reeend portion of a spring 27 which is ,attached to the side of the case 7.A handle 28 is attached to one end of the sha ft 24 and may be used asmeans for turning the said shaft. The faces of the edge of the block 26are so disposed with relation to each other that when one face of thesaid block is moved in contact with the free end portion of the spring27 the screen 25 is held in a horizontal position f' asshown in heavylines in Fig. 4. When the said screen is in this position it is in aplane approximately at a right angle to the focal plane of the camera.When the shaft 24 is turned so that the next adjacent'face of the edgeportion of the block 26 is brought in contact with the spring27 the'screen 25 is held in a position approximately parallel with the focalplane of the camera as indi- V cated in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of thedraw-v A shaft 29 is supported at its end portions at the opposite sidesof the case 7 and a mirror 30 is mounted for pivotal movement upon the'said'shaft The lug 23 which is carried by the detent 20 projects intothe path of movement ofthe edge portion of the mirror 30. 'Arms 31 arexed to the .shaft 29 and swing about the axis of the shaft as the saidshaft is turned. The said arms 31 are provided with inwardly disposedledges 32 upon which the mirrorf 30 rnay rest at times. One of the arms31 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 33. A link 34 ispivotally connected at one end with one edge of the screen 25 and thesaid link is provided at its other end with an inwardly disposed pin 35which lies in the slot 33 of rod 36 is pivotally connected at one endwith one'edge of the mirror 30 and at its other lever.

When the parts ofthe camera are folded l -they are in the position asshown in F1g.-3 ofv the drawing. When it'is desired to extend Y theparts' of the camera the. hed 6 is swung d own into alinement. with thelower side of the caseTandthefframef 5 [is passed out along A the' saidbed-Pto 'a position approxi- .-Ifof v the s'aicl frame 5` extends' thelcase 1i and 5 the inflexible side 10 the hood 2 isr'then' @spring thatarm 31 provided with lthe said slot. 'A

matelyfthefsamefas that shown in Fig.v lof the' drawing. Inasmuh as theinner case 1 v is. connected with the` frame 5 through the bellows3 theoutward mcfiv'ementl on .the part".

',"22 comes into playv and moves the'detent 20l swung up into theposition shown in Fig. 1. Thus the hood 2 is extended over the case 1.By using the handle 28 theshaft 24 is then turned so that the screen 25is swung from a position approximately parallel 'with the 70 focal planeof the camera to a position at right angles thereto as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 1 and as shown in heavy lines in Fig. 4. As thesaid screen 25 is thus moved the pin 35 carried `by the link 34 75 movesalong the slot 33 until it encounters the upper end thereof and then thesaid link swings that arm 31 to which it is attached) which in turnpartially rotates the shaft 29 and thus both of the arms 31 movetogether. 80 inasmuch as the mirror 30 is pivctally mounted upon the.Shaft 29 and restsupon the ledges 32 of the arms 31 the said mirror isswung from a position approximately parallel with the focal planeof-thecamera to a position at an angle withrelation to the same as shownindotted lines in Fig. 1 and in heavy lines in Fig. 4. When the parts arein 4these positions the camera is ready for use. In' the operation oftaking a picture 90 the camera is positioned and the lensthereof focusedin the usual manner and at the desired instant the operator depressesthe outer Aend of the lever 37 whereby the inner end thereof is swung inan upward direction. This moves the rod 36 longitudinally which in turnswings the mirror 30 up toward the screen 35 and beyond the cone oflight which is f directed into the body of the camera through the lens.l(

As the lever 30 moves in an upward direction its edgeportion strikes thelug 23 upon the detent 20 and the saidv detent is swung upon its pivotagainst the action of the 22 and the pawl 21 is carried from 11 underthe tooth 19 of the ratchet 18. When the said ratchet is thus releasedthe tension .of the spring which actuates the roller 12 comes into playand the shutter curtain 14 is unwound from the roller 13 and is wound 1upon the roller 12. The said shutter curtain moves across the focalplane in close proximity to the same and as the opening in the 'curtainmoves across the cone of light the sensitized surface" of the platewhich is 1 carried in the plate-holder 8 is acted upon and the pictureis taken.

It is to be understood'that duringthe upward movement of therirror 30from the 'position shown in heavy lines in Fig. 4 the 1 said mirror doesnot eng-age the lug 23 until the said mirror arrives inthe vicinity ofthe extremity of the upper end of its'movement vandwhen the said mirroris moved in an up- .ward direction it is permitted.to fall back 1 to theposition shown in heavy lines in Fig. 4 almost immediately consequentlyas ysoon as the mirror 30 leaves the lug 23 the spring 'whereby the-pawl 2l.is Acarried back into I the path of movement of the tooth 19 ofthe ratchet 18. Therefore when the said ratchet describes one completerevolution the tooth 19 thereof encounters the pawl 21 and the saidratchet 18 comes to a state of rest.

When it is desired to collapse or fold the parts of the camera the frame5 is moved back along the bed 6 to position within the case 7 as shownin Fig. of the drawing. Prior to this the shaft 24 is turned whereby thescreen 25 is swung from a position approximately at a right angle to thefocal plane of the camera to a position approximately parallel with thesaid plane. Through the connecting link 34 and that arm 31v with whichit is attached the shaft 29 is turned whereby the said arms 31 are swungto approximately vertical positions. Inasmuch as the mirror 30 restsupon the inwardly disposed ledges 32 of the said arms the said mirrorswings to a plane approximately parallel with the focal plane andassumes a position as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawing. Therefore when theframe 5 has been moved in the case 7 the case 1 is collapsed and theinflexible side 10 of the hood 2 is swung down over the lens holder 4and thus the said hood 2 is folded within the case 7. The bed 6 is thenswung up against the outer surface of the side 10 and is secured bymeans of 'a clip 38 which 'is attached to the edge portion of theinflexible side 10. The said inflexible side 10 is provided at a pointadjacent that part thereof which is pivotally connected with the case 7with a handle 39 by which the camera may be carried when the parts arefolded and collapsed as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Therefore ,itwill ybe seen that a camera structure is provided in conjunction with acamera of the reflex type whereby the parts of the'camera may be foldedinto small space or compass when it is desired to carry the apparatus.parts are so arranged that the camera may be easily and quickly set u orextended into operative position and w en in such position the mirrormay be easily and promptly moved beyond the cone of light and themovement of the said mirror effects the release of the shutter curtainwhereby the said curtain is moved across the cone of light and over thefocal plane of the instrument.

Also the Having described the invention what is claimed is y A camerahaving a foca]r plane and means for directing a cone of light upon thesame,- an outer case of relatively small dimensions,

an inner flexible case connected with theouter case, a shutter locatedbetween the focal plane and the light directing means, a

the inner case, a shaft turnablyl mounted in' the outer case and havinglaterally disposed arms, a mirror normally Iresting upon the arms, and alink operatively connecting the screen with one of the arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK COLONNESE.

Witnesses JOHN A. DONEGAN, Gro. A. BYRNE.

